The Great British Pubco Scam. Pubs are closing all over Britain yet pubs are places that most people love and think fondly of as some of the most significant, treasured, iconic parts of our culture, places to be cherished, nurtured and looked after. Yet they're closing everywhere... WHY? It doesn't make sense does it? Read on...
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Friday, March 13, 2009

Well Martin. To be utterly frank the food we do is pretty good and it is good value compared to most places vaugely in competition with us locally - and I KNOW that some customers come here in preference to the local Wetherspoons and pay substantially more than they would there for stuff which written on a menu reads very much like the same thing - but the food here is not as consistent as I'd like it to be and I know my staff could be better trained than they are. BUT the overall experience and ambience we do is better than most.

AS for the £3.50 M&B experience. You're right - each to their own. I'd be happy to try it and hope that it would deliver what I can get in my own place (I get fed up with coming to my own place during work downtime). If it did I'd feel like I'd struck gold and become a regular regular but I doubt that would be my response. Being like cattle in a line waiting for a pile of fodder that's unbelievably CHEAP (I was trained never to say anything other than 'good value' by the way) has appealed but never delivered the experience I aspire to when I forgo eating at home for the luxury of dining out.

I want going out to be at least a little bit special, even if it's at Johnnie's Cafe a bit down the road on Coldharbour Lane (which really is a little bit special and incredibly good value by the way), not a supermarket all you can get in the trolley in three minutes spree for free.

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J Mark Dodds

I’m one of the Pub Persuaders, one of the Pub Professionals, one of the People who knows what’s going on – in PUBS that is - and this blog is about pubs, why they are so important to people and why they must be preserved, reinvigorated, enhanced and remade fit for purpose for the 21st century and beyond and how they must be made sustainable so that future generations can enjoy and learn from the rich seams of knowledge that can be found on everyone’s doorstep in every humble pub – until it’s closed forever – until it’s too late and people say ‘what happened to our pub? We really NEEDED that pub!’
I’m a publican, parent and photographer with a lot of food and drink experience in some of the busiest restaurants and clubs in Britain. Since long before 2008 (when I co-founded the Fair Pint Campaign) I’ve been a pro pubs, people and places person at the forefront of the national conversation about why pubs are closing… everywhere.
I love good pubs, my kids love good pubs, all my friends love good pubs – everyone loves good pubs and I’m determined to make sure good pubs remain part of everybody’s experience - of growing up in the UK and of visiting this country.